Deep within the San Bernardino National Forest lies Big Bear Lake and the surrounding Bear Mountain area, which is renowned world-wide for its ideal snowboarding conditions and scenic, challenging mountain slopes.
Read on to find the best Big Bear snowboarding trails, and where to go for the adrenaline rush that you crave, whether it’s your first time picking up a board or your five-hundredth time!
The Greatest Big Bear Snowboarding Parks, Trails, and More in Big Bear
Here’s a fun fact about Snow Summit and Bear Mountain Big Bear’s two most popular ski- and snowboarding resorts: Olympic Gold Medalist Shaun White spent much of his youth training on Bear Mountain’s free-style park (the first of its kind, founded in the 1990’s, and popularized freestyle snowboarding) and on the Westridge freestyle run on Snow Summit. You can guarantee that because Shaun White spent so much time here on the slopes, not only are these trails spectacular for developing your snowboarding techniques, but they’re also quite invigorating and challenging!
Between the two, Bear Mountain and Snow Summit hold two different mountains. They each sport widely varying mountainous terrain that can fit the skills and abilities of every level of rider. Together, these resorts have an astronomical total of nearly two thousand vertical feet, over two hundred features (including funboxes, jumps, and rails), four hundred and thirty-six acres, four high-speed chairs, fifty-five runs, and twenty-six lifts. The best part: Snow Summit and Bear Mountain offer interchangeable tickets that can be used at both resorts, where you can take lessons, rent equipment, and buy seasonal passes. And the free shuttle between Snow Summit and Bear Mountain means you can switch things up easily.
Snowboarding trails in Big Bear range from beginner-level to advanced- or expert-level. Bear Mountain, also known as “The Park” for its vastly varied terrain, is home to one of the only superpipes in Southern California. It is a halfpipe that was built specifically for extreme sports like snowboarding and freestyle skiing. And Bear Mountain also has a terrain park where the more adventurous and skilled snowboarders can practice and show off on boxes, rails, jumps, and more. Of the two mountains, Bear Mountain is most preferable for snowboarders (due to the vertical terrain), though snowboarders will also find Snow Summit a great mountain to practice on. Bear Mountain’s trails include Easy Street and The Gulch for beginning boarders. Upper Park Run, Boneyard, and Gambler are best for intermediate riders. Those with advanced or expert skills may wish to take on Rip’s Run, Outlaw, Geronimo, or The Wedge.
If you want to do a little snowboarding under the stars, head to Snow Summit with over 150 acres available for night skiing and snowboarding. Once you experience the thrill of swooshing down the mountain in the dark amid the twinkling lights, you’ll be back every night! Snow Summit is a great place for family skiing and snowboarding as there are over 30 trails in a variety of skill levels, and it’s the perfect park for intermediate skiers and snowboarders. There’s a Family Zone too, and a freestyle park with a half-pipe too. And Snow Summit has a snowmaking system, so you can always hit the slopes, no matter what the conditions are. Snow Summit was host to the inaugural Winter X Games in 1997, so you know you’ll get some awesome runs and have plenty of room to practice your shifties and cross-rockets.
And if you get tired of snowboarding in Big Bear, relax with a high-speed tube ride down the mountain at the Grizzly Ridge Tube Park. Take the magic carpet up the mountain, then zip down one of the three tubing lanes for 300 feet of high-speed fun in the snow. Snow Summit offers bobsledding too at Big Bear Snow Play and Magic Mountain.
Lessons, Rentals, Discounts and More
Both Big Bear and Snow Summit both offer snowboard lessons, (both private and group lessons), for snow lovers 4 years and older. Novices should head to Big Bear’s Skill Builder, where they can practice their skills on various terrains and on low-to-the-ground obstacles. It’s a great way to get acclimated to this exciting sport. And lessons aren’t just for beginners either. A private lesson will help polish your snowboarding skills before you hit the slopes and try those jumps.
If you’re new to snowboarding, or just didn’t want to lug all your equipment on the plane, don’t worry. You can rent whatever you need at both parks, from boards, boots and bindings to Burton Learn to Ride equipment especially built for beginners.
Don’t forget, both resorts offer plenty of discounts and specials, from free lift tickets (and more) on your birthday, military discounts, “Friends & Family Tickets”, and free tickets for toddlers and seniors. Without a doubt, you can’t go wrong with Big Bear CA Snowboarding!
Big Bear Cabins – Stay Close to the Action
We offer the best cabins in the Big Bear area. They are situated in the middle of Big Bear’s best attractions and activities, like Big Bear Lake and Bear Mountain. If you’re curious to learn more about what makes Big bear so great, beyond its sweet Big Bear snowboarding spots, ask our friendly reservation specialists. They’re more than happy to answer your questions and give you some insider knowledge on where to go and what to do when you stay with us.
Contact Big Bear Cabins today to reserve your own Winter cabin in the woods of Big Bear and take advantage of the best Big Bear snowboarding around!
